About

Jenny Oliver wrote her first book on holiday when she was ten years old. Illustrated with cut-out supermodels from her sister’s Vogue, it was an epic, sweeping love story not so loosely based Dynasty.

Since then Jenny has gone on to get an English degree and a job in publishing that’s taught her what it takes to write a novel (without the help of the supermodels). She wrote her first book The Parisian Christmas Bake Off on the beach in a notebook that would end up covered in sand each afternoon and damp from the sea. This time the inspiration was her addiction to macaroons, the belief she can cook them and an all-consuming love of Christmas. When the decorations go up in October, that’s fine with her!

Jenny’s books also feature her love of all things vintage, Sunday morning car boot sales (on the hunt for the thrill of a bargain) and an unwavering belief in happy ever after! (Whatever she’s loving on TV might crop up as well!)

Jenny’s books The Summer House by the Sea, The Sunshine and Biscotti Club, The Parisian Christmas Bake Off,The Vintage Summer Wedding and The Little Christmas Kitchen have all enjoyed chart positions in the major supermarkets and other fabulous book shops. Her bestselling ebook series of novellas, all set around the idyllic Cherry Pie Island, is perfect for a quick, escapist read.Her latest title The Summer House by the Sea has been called a ‘must-read!’ by the Sunday Express S Magazine and ‘a perfect holiday read’ by The Sun!

Author interview

What’s your latest book about?

THE SUMMER WE RAN AWAY is all about fleeing your so-called perfect life under the worst circumstances! Join Julia and Amber on their Thelma and Louise-esque road trip across France in search of answers, forgiveness and themselves. Look out for it Spring/ Summer 2020

And if you LOVE a gorgeous, heart-wrenching, scandalous YA then look no further than CHELSEA HIGH. My new series set in the rich, bitchy, exciting corridors of London’s most elite high school. Coming Spring 2020.

What is your greatest achievement

Seeing my book on the shelf in the supermarkets. Having my son – Woody. Swimming in the Cornish sea on New Year’s Day.

Coffee or tea?

A cappuccino first thing and then tea – no sugar, not masses of milk.

What would your superpower be?

To be able to fly. There’s nothing more disappointing than waking from a dream when flying’s been second nature.

What’s your favourite karaoke song?

As long as no one minded the terrible out-of-tune-ness, Downtown by Petula Clark.

Favourite time of day?

Breakfast – we all eat together (cereal or toast with apricot jam) and the radio’s on and the sun’s coming in through the window. I especially like it at the weekend when we go out for chocolate croissants and coffee. Or just after my son’s gone to bed and I have a really calm glass of wine.

Favourite meal?

Tapas! Spicy chorizo, tiny padron peppers, tomato salad, sizzling prawns, artichoke hearts and wafer thin serrano ham. I also really love a barbecue – spatchcocked chicken and chipolatas with lots of salads and grilled vegetable kebabs. We always have bananas afterwards, barbecued in their skins and when they’re done we split them and add pieces of chocolate that melt almost immediately. I love it but have just found out that my brother-in-law of twelve years thinks it’s a bonkers tradition. I thought everyone did it!

If you could live in any building which would it be?

The Natural History Museum.

Favourite things to do…

Hunt for bargains at car boot sales, go bodyboarding in the sea, have lunch with all my extended family, spend a sneaky hour in TKMaxx, walk by the river, flick through magazines, cook with the radio on, read to Woody.

TV viewing in your house is…

At the moment it’s lots of things on Netflix – Call My Agent is a current fave. Films on iTunes. I can’t resist programmes like The Great British Bake-Off and Interior Design Challenge, I’m obsessed with one called Blown Away on Netflix about glass blowing. Love a bit of vintage Rick Stein and Nigella. I also indulge in some guilty lunchtime viewing of A Place in the Sun!

In another life, you’d be…

A frog. They get everything – they look cool, they live in the water and they can swim really fast. Or a crab. Or a Stag Beetle. I like things with claws.

Hi Claire, Four Wedding and a White Christmas is out now and the 5th Cherry Pie Island book.
I’m currently planning a book for Spring 16 which won’t be Cherry Pie but I have a feeling that I’ll be going back there at some point in the future!
Jenny x

I loved The Grand Reopening of Dandelion Café and am looking forward to reading more of your books. I would just like mention a mistake that I found in the book.

Andrew from the Lighthouse called into the café for a cup of tea. He then took a sip of his coffee and then finished of his cappuccino. Surely he did not have three drinks? Just thought I would mention it although it will not put me off reading more of your books.

Hi Debbie,
I don’t think so at the moment, because it’s a novella. Maybe one day the whole Cherry Pie Island series will be one big, bumper book… Fingers crossed! Have you seen that The Sunshine and Biscotti Club has just come out in paperback?
Jenny x

I would love the Chery Pie island books to be available in paperback – I’m just reading the sunshine and biscotti club and was really looking forward to reading the rest of the books but hate reading via Kindle etc 😦 x

Hi Rosie,
Thanks for reading Sunshine and Biscotti! At the moment there are no plans for a Cherry Pie paperback but there are three other books – The Vintage Summer Wedding, The Little Christmas Kitchen and The Parisian Christmas Bake Off – all available in print if any of those take your fancy!
If the Cherry Pies ever go into a print anthology I’ll make sure the news goes on the blog.
Happy reading! 😉
Jenny x